News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Life
Culture & Art
Hobbies
News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Culture & Art
Hobbies
- home
›- Education Rickshaw | International Education Blog
›- Education & Personal Development
Education Rickshaw | International Education Blog - Education & Personal Development
10 | Follower
S4E39: Shawn Datchuk on Teaching Sentence Construction with Precision – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Dr. Shawn Datchuk, a leading researcher who’s helped shape how we think about sentence construction for struggling learners. Drawing from the literature on Precision Teaching and Direct Instruction, Shawn shares how timed practice and explicit strategies can accelerate mastery in writing, especially for students with learning…
Direct Instruction Motivation Part 2: Productive Praise – Education Rickshaw
This series explores a rarely discussed strength of direct instruction: its power to motivate students. While critics often paint explicit teaching as boring or uninspiring, the truth is that its structure, pace, and design motivate kids better than any other system. If momentum is the first ingredient of motivation, the second is acknowledgment. Direct Instruction…
Knowledge Is Back—But Only If We Teach It Well – Education Rickshaw
I recently joined Dylan Wiliam and Patrice Bain on the Knowledge Matters Podcast to talk about retrieval practice, mini whiteboards, and the kinds of instructional moves that actually help students remember what they’ve learned. It was a generous conversation - one that didn’t just skim the surface of techniques, but dug into why they matter.…
S4E38: Nathan Lang-Raad on Learning Science and Artificial Intelligence – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Nathan Lang-Raad for a wide-ranging conversation that threads together two hot-button topics: artificial intelligence and the science of learning. There’s excitement everywhere—some even say AI will revolutionize teaching and learning. But are we getting ahead of ourselves? Nathan and I explore the real benefits AI can…
S4E37: John Tanner on Tests, College, and Cheating Scandals – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I sat down with a personal friend whose work I deeply respect: John Tanner. His leadership in education has weathered storms—most notably, false accusations of cheating after huge gains in achievement were obtained at his school. But what shines through is his steadfast belief in the life-changing power of…
Where PD Ends and Real Training Begins – Education Rickshaw
Most professional development doesn't develop teachers. No one checks whether you can do the thing that you were supposed to learn at the workshop. In fact, it's rarely expected, beyond the occasional ice-breaker, that participants even participate. This is why my experience this week at the National Direct Instruction (DI) Conference, and its emphasis on…
S4E36: Bonnie Grossen and Kurt Engelmann on Full Immersion Direct Instruction – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of The Direct Instruction Podcast – cross-posted on Progressively Incorrect – I’m joined by Bonnie Grossen and Kurt Engelmann, two long-time advocates and practitioners whose work has shaped the real-world application of schoolwide Direct Instruction. After engaging conversations with both of them—on everything from implementation across diverse contexts to the role of…
Direct Instruction Conference: No Flash, All Function – Education Rickshaw
I’m in Eugene, Oregon this week, soaking up the scene at the National Direct Instruction Conference. It’s not a glitzy affair - there are no lanyard influencers here, no big-stage keynotes promising “Project Based Learning” or “21st century skills.” What you get instead is something rarer and more sustaining: Design. Delivery. Organization. Teachers rolling up…
Why British Teachers Know Cognitive Load Theory – and American Ones Don’t – Education Rickshaw
I was recently featured in an insightful piece by Greg Toppo, a seasoned education journalist whose work connects classroom practice with broader shifts in education policy. When Zach Groshell zoomed in as a guest on a longstanding British education podcast last March, a co-host began the interview by telling listeners he was “very well-known over in the…
Steplab Coaching Ambassador Program, North America – Education Rickshaw
As you're thinking about your PD for school year 2025-26, I recommend the Steplab Ambassador Program. My colleagues and I will teach you how to coach and use our tools to make efficient and effective instruction come to life in your school. "My Steplab Ambassador experience has been a meaningful journey, providing the essential structure I need,…
S4E35: Stephanie Stollar, Diane Kinder, and Marcy Stein on MTSS and Direct Instruction – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of The Direct Instruction Podcast - cross-posted on Progressively Incorrect - I’m joined by Stephanie Stollar, Diane Kinder, and Marcy Stein—three educators and researchers whose work intersects at the heart of effective instruction and systems-level change. After engaging conversations with each of them around Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and the role…
Direct Instruction Motivation Part 1: Keep It Moving – Education Rickshaw
This series explores a rarely discussed strength of direct instruction: its power to motivate students. While critics often paint explicit teaching as boring or uninspiring, the truth is that its structure, pace, and design motivate kids better than any other system. Momentum is fragile. Linger too long, and you’ll lose them. Ask a question the…
Science of Reading Meets Explicit Instruction – Education Rickshaw
I'm an advocate for evidence-based instruction, and one of the few shining areas in that space is early reading. The science of reading provides a wealth of insights into how the mind learns to decode, comprehend, and engage with text. But simply knowing what goes into a science-based literacy block or textbook isn’t enough—students require…
S4E34: Jonah Davids on the Debates Over Restorative Justice and SEL – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m joined by Jonah Davids. Jonah and I met while participating in a panel discussion around declining behavior in schools (listen here), which led me to invite him to discuss the evidence base behind Restorative Justice and Social-Emotional approaches in education. Are we on track or has there been…
Maximizing Attention and Teacher Talk (Webinar Recording) – Education Rickshaw
If you follow this blog, you will know that I produce a lot of free content for teachers and instructional leaders. Subscribing gets you direct access to my podcast, Progressively Incorrect, plus information about upcoming events that are worth your time. I recently recorded this webinar with Blake Harvard, the author of Do I Have Your…
Anything but boring: The power of direct instruction – Education Rickshaw
Something of a movement is brewing in education these days. A renewed interest in the science of how kids learn has led to greater adoption of effective teaching principles: We should regulate student attention, manage the cognitive load of tasks, over-practice concepts with students, and use student responses to adjust lessons. This is called direct…
When something matters, we make time for it – Education Rickshaw
I'm often told that schools don't have time to focus on teaching and learning. The reality is they don’t make time. Instructional coaching doesn’t demand a ton of time—it takes just 20-30 minutes to deliver a sharp and purposeful feedback session around a single, granular action step. Done right, it not only improves instruction but…
S4E33: Peps Mccrea on Great Teaching and Human Flourishing – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I am delighted to host Peps Mccrea, the Director of Education at Steplab and the mind behind the must-read online newsletter, Evidence Snacks. Peps has dedicated his career to improving education through evidence-based practices. His latest project includes Great Teaching, Unpacked, a Netflix-style documentary that is pushing the boundaries…
Song-and-Dance Consulting – Education Rickshaw
If you're under 30—or as chronically online as I am—you will know the YouTube influencer, Mr. Beast. Regardless of whether you have an opinion of Mr. Beast, he has some interesting things to say about consultants: Consultants are literally cheat codes. Need to make the world's largest slice of cake? Start off by calling the…
Harnessing Attention and Explaining Better – Education Rickshaw
Blake Harvard, a teacher and author of the best-selling book, Do I have your attention?, and I share an obsession with improving teaching through evidence-based practices. A major focus of both of our work is the translation of principles of learning science into practical strategies that can be used in tomorrow's lesson. You can hear…
The Direct Instruction Podcast and Conference – Education Rickshaw
Over the past year, I have released 10 episodes of The Direct Instruction Podcast. It has been well received, and my hope is that it has inspired discussion not just about the delivery of instruction, but the design of effective materials and the organization of effective schools. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh1xxmQ8V6XInWAHACcvXJEVVNESodLZF&si=LfH1CKRdf0IgqSmh Listen to The Direct Instruction Podcast: SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon…
S4E32: Rachel Ball on Scaffolded Instruction and Adaptive Teaching – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I am delighted to host Rachel Ball, Coaching Development Lead at Steplab and a passionate advocate for effective teaching based on the science of learning. Rachel will explore her new book, The Scaffolding Effect, and the Explicit Instruction Conference we are both keynoting in New Mexico (sign up here!).…
Minimally Guided Instruction Doesn’t Work in Math, Either – Education Rickshaw
Just last week I ran an instructional coaching intensive in Philadelphia with my colleagues at Steplab. If you haven't heard of Steplab, I would sincerely hope you reach out. Several attendees, including from The Writing Revolution and The Reading League, called it the best training they'd ever attended. It is no surprise why so many…
A Refreshing Case for Explicit Instruction – Education Rickshaw
I was happy to see a fantastic and thorough review of my book, Just Tell Them, in the Learning & the Brain blog. This comes after I just presented at Learning & the Brain alongside folks like Doug Lemov, Haili Hughes and Dan Willingham (click those links for podcasts of mine that they each featured…
Teacher PD Without Ice Breakers – Education Rickshaw
I was recently invited onto Chris Baker's podcast/YouTube hybrid series, Leadership Launchpad, to discuss some of the things I have learned over the last few years about consulting and PD. It is, surprisingly, a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times! https://youtu.be/4bGfBc6iY98?si=AXk9cmlM1esrxth0 I am quite proud of the result, and I think you'll appreciate some…
S4E31: Laura Stam on Integrating Explicit Teaching Practices into Elementary Classrooms – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m delighted to host Laura Stam, a dedicated advocate for the Science of Reading and Direct Instruction. Laura will share her expertise on designing and curating resources to integrate content and vocabulary into literacy, discuss new shifts in her thinking and teaching, and offer insights into how structured teaching…
Explicit instruction is essential – especially for students with learning disabilities like dyscalculia – Education Rickshaw
In the latest episode of the Unlocking Dyscalculia podcast, Adrianne Meldrum sits down with Dr. Zach Groshell, author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching, to explore why direct, well-scaffolded teaching is essential—especially for students with learning disabilities like dyscalculia. Article continued here. https://youtu.be/ExvfomGD93o
Building Thinking Classrooms is Repackaged Discovery Learning – Education Rickshaw
In education, nothing is truly new. Consider project-based learning, which made its debut in the 18th century under the guise of "The Project Method." Inquiry-based learning has similarly worn many hats over the years, from discovery learning to exploratory learning to experiential learning. As the veteran teachers have long said, everything old becomes new again.…
S4E30: Ronak Bhatt on Accelerated Learning and Homogeneous Grouping – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I’m honored to host Ronak Bhatt, the accomplished founder and school leader of TELRA Institute. Ronak will discuss how acceleration can open doors for learners, share his thoughts on the benefits and challenges of homogeneous grouping, and provide insights into experimental educational models that offer bold alternatives to traditional…
S4E29: Rachel Sewell on the Ingredients of Effective Professional Development – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I am delighted to host Rachel Sewell, Coaching Development Lead at Steplab and a passionate advocate for effective professional development. Rachel will explore the 14 mechanisms of effective professional development, including how they build knowledge, motivate educators, develop teaching techniques, and embed sustainable practices. Listen and subscribe to Progressively…
S4E28: Jonathan Regino on Curriculum Evaluation and Math Coaching – Education Rickshaw
In this episode of Progressively Incorrect, I am thrilled to host Jonathan Regino, an innovative educator and instructional leader known for his expertise in curriculum adoption and math coaching. Jonathan is passionate about enhancing teaching practices and fostering impactful math learning experiences. Listen and subscribe to Progressively Incorrect on… SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastsWordPress Jon will share his…
Book Club Materials for Just Tell Them – Education Rickshaw
By popular request, I am excited to share some resources for my book, Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching. These were created by my friend and fellow educator, Helen Reynolds. Helen is known for her overviews and planning templates for the education books she's currently reading. These are perfect to pair…
S4E27: Richard Mayer on the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning – Education Rickshaw
Today, I am thrilled to host Richard Mayer on Progressively Incorrect, a distinguished educational psychologist and researcher known worldwide for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding how we learn. Rich brings a wealth of knowledge and a sharp focus on multimedia learning, generative learning, and evidence-based critiques of discovery learning. Listen and subscribe to Progressively Incorrect…
Projects have a time and a place, but PBL does not – Education Rickshaw
Project-based learning (PBL) enjoys widespread popularity in schools. There is an intuitive appeal to connecting classroom content to the “real world”, and we’re told projects are engaging and authentic. But in my visits to schools that champion PBL, these promises are rarely delivered. If projects are to take up precious class time, they must meet…
S4E26: Lynn Gaffney on Bridging Leadership and the Science of Learning – Education Rickshaw
Today, I am thrilled to host Lynn Gaffney on Progressively Incorrect, a passionate educator and leader known for her deep commitment to bridging research and practice in schools. Lynn brings a wealth of experience and a sharp focus on the science of learning, using evidence-informed strategies to drive meaningful outcomes for students and teachers alike.…
Webinar Recording for: Planning for Research Based Teaching Strategies – Education Rickshaw
If you follow this blog, you will know that I produce a lot of free content for teachers and instructional leaders. You can get my podcast, Progressively Incorrect, direct to your inbox, and you can get discounts to conferences that I put on. If you're the latter, I recommend you e-mail hello@steplab.co and mention that…
The Problem with “Sit and Get” PD and Conventional Instructional Coaching – Education Rickshaw
The problem with conventional "sit and get" PD is that it doesn't often contain the mechanisms that lead to adoption of effective techniques. Listening to someone talk about "best practice" is far from a guarantee that this information, no matter how persuasive, will transfer into the classroom. Instructional coaching is perhaps the best evidenced solution…
Great Teaching is Possible, Even at Your School – Education Rickshaw
As explicit instruction takes off in schools off the heels of Sold a Story and the Science of Reading, leaders are looking for ways to embed key principles into their teaching framework. I was interviewed in three podcasts recently that, I believe, do a good job at explaining explicit instruction. It's not lecturing. It's not…
S4E25: Daisy Christodoulou on Assessment Practices and Challenges – Education Rickshaw
Today, I am thrilled to host Daisy Christodoulou, an esteemed author and education expert renowned for her groundbreaking work on curriculum design and assessment. Daisy's thought-provoking insights have reshaped the way educators approach teaching, and her books, including "Seven Myths About Education," have become essential reads in the field. In this episode, Daisy will delve…
S4E24: Randi Saulter and Ann Baum on DI in Special Education Settings – Education Rickshaw
Today I am excited to be bringing you an episode of the DI podcast with Randi Saulter and Ann Baum. Randi and Ann are two passionate special education teachers who will take us through what Zig Engelmann called the “picky, picky” details of implementing DI in special education classrooms. This episode is chock full of…